We are a small company, and we like it that way. It allows us to work closely with our friends and family, and to bring our customers into that family, and nothing is more valuable to us than that ability to create a community. We are committed to treating everyone with integrity and respect, and we understand our responsibility to the world.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to develop their talents. Everyone deserves a healthy start to life in order to do so. And because we are all in this together, we are committed to supporting a number of nonprofit organizations around the world working to achieve these goals.
Sankara Eye Foundation
More than 80% of cases of blindness are preventable. But too many people lack access to the healthcare that could treat these preventable diseases. Dedicated to giving the “Gift of Vision” to those who normally could not afford it, Sankara Eye Foundation uses the 80/20 rule to give free eye care to 80% of their patients, an endeavor funded by the paid services of 20% of their patients.
What began as a single clinic in the south of India grew steadily over the course of 40 years to become a network of more than a dozen hospitals across the country. We are proud to be associated with an organization dedicated to bringing all that is beautiful in the world to everyone’s eyes.
Smile Train
Cleft lip or palate is a condition that affects 1 in every 500-750 live births around the world, the result of tissues of the face not joining properly in development. It is a common condition that can cause major problems with feeding and speech, and can also lead to hearing problems and ear infections, not to mention the social and psychological effects. But the good news is that it is treatable with a relatively simple surgery.
That is why we support Smile Train, a New York City-based nonprofit that has spent the past two decades providing surgery and support to over a million children in almost 100 countries born with a cleft lip or palate. Beyond the surgery to repair the condition, they also provide speech therapy, psychological counseling, and nutritional services to children affected.
It was watching the documentary Smile Pinki that inspired us to join Smile Train in their mission to change the world one smile at a time. The film follows the struggles of Pinki Sonkar, a five-year-old Indian girl living with a cleft lip. Pinki’s story does have a happy ending, though, as she eventually receives free cleft lip surgery through The Smile Train.
Soka Gakkai International
Soka Gakkai International is a grassroots Buddhist organization that values equality, harmony, and encourages world peace, values we need to see in the world now more than ever. SGI acts on these values by engaging in peace activities such as human rights education, promoting sustainable development, and joining in the movement to abolish nuclear weapons. The most diverse Buddhist community in the United States, SGI boasts more than 500 chapters and 100 centers across the country. Soka Gakkai reminds us that everything is interconnected, and we all share the responsibility of caring for one another and our environment.
